Parks and open spaces in desperate need of a makeover could soon be handed a £400,000 grant.

London mayor Boris Johnson has launched a scheme to regenerate ten open spaces, giving residents the chance to vote on which ones will get the money.

Four west London parks - South Park, in Fulham; Little Wormwood Scrubs and Hammersmith Park, both in Shepherd's Bush; and Broadley Street Gardens, in Lisson Grove - are among 47 on the shortlist.

The mayor will give each winning park £400,000 and a single grant of up to £2million for one large park for a makeover. Work will be carried out at the parks over the next two to three years.

Kensington and Chelsea's cabinet member for environment Cllr Nick Paget-Brown is encouraging people to vote for Little Wormwood Scrubs to preserve wildlife in the park.

He said: "It is a great spot for wildlife enthusiasts, attracting many birds and butterflies.We're planning to build a new playground, better footpaths and improve scrub and woodland.Winning the mayor's Priority Park's competition will help regenerate this park and give residents of both Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham a park that can be used by all."

Westminster Council's cabinet member for customers and neighbourhoods Cllr Audrey Lewis added her support for Broadley Street Gardens.She said:"This will be a genuine park for the people, and I hope the community will throw their full support behind it as further funding will ensure we can tap into its full potential."

Broadley Street Gardens was recently forced to close for emergency works when large holes opened up underground, and the council is already investing £870,000 to reopen it next autumn.

To vote, see www.london.gov.uk/parksvote or call City Hall on 020 7983 4100.Voting closes on January 30, 2009.